Role of stress exercise ECG testing in evaluation of saphenous vein coronary artery bypass grafts

ABSTRACT

In this study, 50 patients [forty-six males and four females aged 32 to 60 years] were evaluated six months to five years after saphenous vein coronary artery bypass surgery [CARG]. The clinical picture was compared with the results of exercise test and with coronary angiographic studies before and after surgery. In the stress test, emphasis was put on the degree of effort tolerance, precipitation of chest pain by exercise, ST changes and cardiac arrhythmias. In conclusion, although ECG stress testing can be used to evaluate the patency of venous grafts post CABG, yet it has its limitations. The golden standard at present remains the coronary angiogram